German · Intermediate (B1) · Chapter 6 of 12
Solving problems
Probleme lösen
Complain about something broken and find a solution in German: indirect questions with ob and question words, and real conditions with wenn.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Explain what's wrong with something you bought
- Ask polite indirect questions with ob, wann, wie lange …
- Talk about real conditions with wenn
- Suggest and accept a solution
Listen
Ramona Vogel (40s) brings a coffee machine back to an electrical shop in Wiesbaden. A sales assistant, Herr Yıldırım, helps her. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Herr Yıldırım
Guten Tag. Kann ich Ihnen helfen?
Hello. Can I help you?
Frau Vogel
Ja, ich habe ein Problem. Ich habe diese Kaffeemaschine vor drei Wochen bei Ihnen gekauft, und seit gestern funktioniert sie nicht mehr.
Yes, I have a problem. I bought this coffee machine here three weeks ago, and since yesterday it hasn't been working.
Herr Yıldırım
Das tut mir leid. Was genau ist das Problem?
I'm sorry about that. What exactly is the problem?
Frau Vogel
Wenn ich einen Kaffee machen will, kommt nur heißes Wasser. Ich weiß nicht, was da kaputt ist.
When I want to make a coffee, only hot water comes out. I don't know what's broken.
Herr Yıldırım
Haben Sie den Kassenbon?
Do you have the receipt?
Frau Vogel
Ja, hier. Können Sie mir sagen, ob die Maschine noch Garantie hat?
Yes, here. Can you tell me if the machine is still under guarantee?
Herr Yıldırım
Ja, natürlich. Sie haben zwei Jahre Garantie. Wir können die Maschine zur Reparatur schicken.
Yes, of course. You have a two-year guarantee. We can send the machine off to be repaired.
Frau Vogel
Und wissen Sie, wie lange die Reparatur dauert?
And do you know how long the repair takes?
Herr Yıldırım
Das kann ich leider nicht genau sagen. Meistens dauert es zwei bis drei Wochen.
Unfortunately I can't say exactly. It usually takes two to three weeks.
Frau Vogel
Drei Wochen ohne Kaffee? Das geht nicht. Kann ich die Maschine nicht einfach umtauschen?
Three weeks without coffee? That won't work. Can't I just exchange the machine?
Herr Yıldırım
Wie wäre es, wenn Sie heute eine neue Maschine mitnehmen? Die alte schicken wir dann zurück.
How about taking a new machine with you today? Then we'll send the old one back.
Frau Vogel
Das wäre toll. Vielen Dank, das ist sehr nett von Ihnen.
That would be great. Thank you very much, that's very kind of you.
Understand
Indirect questions: ob and question words
A question often sounds more polite inside another sentence: , …?, , …? or , …. The question then becomes a clause with the verb at the end, like after .
Questions with a question word keep it: → Yes/no questions use (if, whether): → Careful: English “if” here is always , never .
| Direct question | Indirect question |
|---|---|
Real conditions: wenn … (dann) …
For something that is possible or really happens, use with the normal present tense in both parts: The main clause after the comma starts with its verb, and you can add (then):
Compare this with the Konjunktiv II from chapter 5, which is for things you only imagine: , …
- Wenn die Maschine kaputt ist, schicken wir sie zur Reparatur.If the machine is broken, we send it off to be repaired.
- Wenn Sie keinen Kassenbon haben, ist es schwierig.If you don't have a receipt, it's difficult.
Complaints and solutions
When something you bought is faulty, say what's wrong, then what you would like. The Konjunktiv II makes your request polite, and a shop assistant will often use it to suggest a solution: …, …, …?
| German | English |
|---|---|
| … | … doesn't work any more. |
| … | … is broken. |
| … | I'd like to exchange … |
| Could I get my money back? | |
| …? | How about …? / What if …? |
| … | You could also … |
More in the grammar: Asking questions · Linking clauses: als, wenn, obwohl, damit, um … zu · The Konjunktiv II: würde, hätte, wäre, könnte
New words
- die Kaffeemaschinecoffee machine · feminine, plural: ; = machine
- nicht mehrnot any more, no longer · = It doesn't work any more.
- kaputtbroken
- obif, whether · sends the verb to the end: …?
- die Garantieguarantee, warranty · feminine, plural:
- dauernto take (time), to last · = How long does that take?
- meistensusually, mostly
- Das geht nicht.That won't work. / That's not possible.
- umtauschento exchange (in a shop) · separable: ; Perfekt:
- Wie wäre es, wenn …?How about …? / What if …? · verb at the end:
- zurückschickento send back · separable:
- zurückbekommento get back · separable:
- schwierigdifficult
Practise
1.Which word completes the question? “Können Sie mir sagen, ___ die Maschine noch Garantie hat?”
2.Complete with in the right form and place.
Do you know how long the repair takes?
3.Turn “” into an indirect question.
I don't know what's broken.
4.Complete with in the right form.
If the machine is still under guarantee, you don't pay anything.
5.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.Can you tell me if the machine is still under guarantee?
6.Match the words with their meanings.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Die Maschine funktioniert seit gestern nicht mehr.
The machine hasn't been working since yesterday.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.